How Noise Cancelling Headphones Can Improve Your Listening Experience

Noise cancelling headphones use microphones to listen for ambient sounds and create an anti-noise signal that counteracts unwanted sounds. They're ideal for blocking out rumbles and chatter from planes and trains but they won't do much to cut the sound of your brakes squealing or your passenger's animated conversations.

Active noise cancellation requires a good isolation, either by padding around your ears or an effective seal using earbuds or over-ear headphones. We've examined how well they muffle lower-frequency constant sounds, like train and traffic noise, too.

What is noise cancellation?

Noise cancelling allows listeners to concentrate on their music or audiobook, without distraction from background noise. Noise cancelling headphones come with built-in microphones that block out external sounds before they get to your ears, effectively silencing the outside world so you can listen to your music or audiobook in peace.

Active noise cancellation (ANC) is among the most popular headphone features on the market. It's offered by a variety of headphone brands, in a variety of sizes and colors, and is even found on some budget models. The technology is quite simple: the earcups or earbuds have mini-microphones that "listen" to ambient sound frequencies and play back equal, but opposite noise waves to block them before they reach your ear.

The crests and troughs of these waves cancel each other, a process referred to as destructive interference, leaving nothing other than the music you're listened to. This is particularly effective for continuous, monotonous sounds like the hum of an aircraft engine or Bob's constant chatter. It's less effective when there's louder or more frequent sounds that are difficult to identify and filter out. For example the pinging sound of a computer's keyboard or the alarm ringing on your phone.

Another form of noise isolation is passive, which reduces noise by forming a seal with your ears with the padding of the ear cups. This is a great alternative for those who do not want to rely on batteries to provide ANC capability, but still want to enjoy a quiet environment when working or at home.

All headphones require power to function, regardless of whether it's an audio processor or battery. While ANC can cut down on most external noises, they are unable to create a cone-shaped silence around your ears. If the sounds around you are loud enough, they'll bleed into your ears. This is the reason it's essential to wear your headphones comfortably enough to not have any gaps in the fit so that you can enjoy the maximum benefit from ANC.

How does it work exactly?

The technology behind noise cancelling headphones consists of miniature microphones within the earcups or earbuds which listen to the sounds around you. The sound is processed by the headphones to create a soundwave opposite that blocks them out and prevents their reaching your ears.

Sound waves, whether they're emanating from outside or through your music are made up of oscillating air molecules. This means that sound waves have a size or amplitude. It's measured by the distance between peaks on an unsteady graph. Sound waves with greater amplifies are larger, while those with smaller amplitudes are smaller. ANC headphones take advantage of this by listening to sounds around you and generating an opposite sound that neutralizes them.

ANC headsets feature a variety of features that make them more effective at blocking ambient noises, including feedback microphones and an ANC chipset. These chips use algorithms to invert incoming sound signals and then release an opposing signal, which is much like firing anti-ballistic missiles that shoot down the incoming warheads (again think of the military-grade countermeasures seen in war movies).

The ANC drivers in each ear cup create these opposite signals. When you turn on the ANC by pressing a button on your headset, sounds from the surrounding environment are minimized or eliminated.

The technology behind ANC is impressive, but it comes with some compromises. The additional electronics required to enable this technology can add weight and bulk to your headphones. They also draw more power, which could lead to a shorter battery life and potentially some high-frequency hiss.

Another issue is that a number of users have reported feelings of dizziness or disorientation while wearing ANC headphones. While this is a problem, it's usually due to something else triggering those feelings, not the ANC headphones themselves.

The good news is that more advanced ANC headphones are starting to address these issues. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 headphones are a good example, offering various ANC modes, including 'office,' 'plane, and city'. They also have a slider that lets you to customize the amount of external sound you want through. Apple's new AirPods Pro 2 also feature the same feature, and comes with the 'Ambient Aware mode' that digitally adapts the level of ANC to your surroundings.

What are the top headphones for noise cancellation?

Noise cancelling headphones can make a huge difference to your listening experience. They can help you concentrate in the office or block out engine noise on trains and planes. These headphones are ideal for commuting or working at home. They can be used with any audio device including tablets, smartphones and laptops. There are wireless ANC headphones to suit every budget. They can be costly however they're well worth the cost.

The most effective pair of headphones that block out noise will be comfortable to wear for extended periods, with a good seal around your ears. The battery lifespan should last at least 30hrs which is enough to last through your everyday commute or workday. You'll also want to check that they support your audio source, whether it's Bluetooth or USB-C.

Over-ear headphones are generally more comfortable than in ear models. They come with a bigger headband and padded cups that sit over your ears, assisting to keep them in place for a longer period of time. They're also more effective at blocking out ambient noise. However, it's important to remember that there are exceptions and the best noise cancelling headphones for you will depend on your lifestyle and preferences in music.

Most over-ear headphones provide some degree of noise reduction However, the degree of noise reduction will vary greatly depending on the design and how well they fit into your ears. An insufficient fit could let in ambient noise and even affect the bass quality. You can try switching out the standard tips of your headphones to see if this improves the fit and reduces ambient noise. This is also compatible with most earbuds.

In-ear headphones aren't always comfortable for long listening sessions, as they tend to rest in your ears rather than over them. You can alter the size of your headphones by tilting them back or forward. They are also lighter, which makes them more mobile and easy to carry. In our tests, the majority of earbuds provide a certain amount of noise-isolation, but not as impressive as with over-ear headphones.

What should I look for when purchasing headphones that block out noise?

The most effective noise cancelling headphones cut down on ambient noise, allowing you to focus on audio without being distracted by your surroundings. To achieve this, they usually employ active noise cancellation (ANC) but not all ANC headsets are created equal. It's crucial to think about the kind of ANC employed, whether they're in-ear or over-ear, and also the build quality.

Over-ear and in-ear headphones are typically the more well-known options and both provide excellent noise-cancellation. In-ear headphones are more portable and less bulky. While models with over-ears are more comfortable, they can also be more expensive. Over-ear headphones are generally more expensive, but they often provide superior sound quality, while in-ear models offer an affordable option with a solid sound quality.

Certain ANC headphones offer different levels of ANC offering you the ability to adjust the level of ANC to the situation at hand. For instance, you may prefer to turn ANC off while on a plane or public transportation, but enable it when in the office or at home to block the whir of your PC's cooling fans or your neighbor's lawn mower. Many headphones come with a 'transparency mode' which allows some external noise to pass through, meaning you can hear important ambient sound like traffic or conversations.

As well as ANC and ANC, the best headphones that cancel out noise typically have an impressive battery life and Bluetooth support for wireless listening. Some headphones are compatible with the aptX or Headphone On Sale aptX HD Bluetooth codes, which offer superior audio quality compared to traditional Bluetooth.

There are ANC headphones that cost less than PS50. However the Bose QC35 II over-ear headphones provide the best value. The ANC is superb and Headphone on Sale has a slight gap between tracks that lets you hear your voice when you speak, and they are high-quality and sound crisp and full of detail.

Children's noise-canceling headphone on sale (read on) are also worth considering, particularly for children who are suffering from sensory overload and require help in processing auditory stimuli. They typically come with a broad range of colors and styles targeted at children and even licensed by some popular cartoon or video game properties. They are more comfortable for children than conventional headphones, and they often come with parental controls such as volume-limiting features.